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Cremation
I would like to ask about the law regarding cremation.
I came up with this question after seeing news about a Muslim family in Japan who could not bury their family member’s body because many Japanese residents refused to allow a burial site to be built in their area.
Japanese people always cremate rather than bury the dead. They do this because Japan is a small country and they fear environmental pollution caused by burying the dead.
As Muslims, we are taught to always bury the dead when someone passes away. So when a situation like this occurs, what should we do, sir? What is the Islamic law on cremation, sir?
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15 Replies
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Cremation
updated 1 month ago
2 Members
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15
Replies
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Burying is a decent way to dispose of a human body, which is why it is adopted. Whenever it is not possible, the body can be disposed of in any appropriate way. For example, during a sea journey, dead bodies are put into the water.
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Then sir, what is the right solution for our brothers and sisters in Japan who have no place to bury the dead?
And what is the law on cremation, sir?
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There is not instruction from Shariah. Every government should respect the sentiments of its community. The Muslims should try convey their feelings to the government. However, we never heard of such things.
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Then sir, what is the right solution for our brothers and sisters in Japan who have no place to bury the dead?
And what is the law on cremation, sir? -
@Irfan76 so sir………..
Does that mean cremation is permitted even if it is not an emergency?
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As I told you, there is no instruction in Shariah. All we say is that the dead ones should be disposed of respectfully.
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Oh, I see. The thing is, sir, the reason I asked this question is because, first, there are difficulties for fellow Muslims in Japan who cannot bury the dead because it is not permitted by the local community.
And secondly, many scholars say that cremation is haram, based on several hadiths such as this:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Breaking a dead man’s bone is like breaking it when he is alive.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3207
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3207
‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “Breaking a dead man’s bone is like breaking it when he is alive.”
Malik, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Mishkat al-Masabih 1714
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:1714
Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that A’isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say, “Breaking the bone of a Muslim when he is dead is like breaking it when he is alive.” She meant if done in wrong action.
Muwatta Malik
Based on the above hadith, is cremation haram?
sunnah.com
Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) in English and Arabic
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Everything is understood in its context. Breaking the bones of a dead unnecessary is of course bad and disrespectful.
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I know that damaging human bones is completely wrong.
But sir, what is the context of the above hadith? The reason is that many scholars use this hadith to prohibit cremation.
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Mostly Ahadith are not narrated with their context. To determine the context is a matter of research.
We know that hadith doesn’t add anything new to corpus of Deen. Thefore we place them in the frame of Deen unless we find their context which always confirms that the saying of the prophet was in conformity with the established principles and teachings of Deen.
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Oh, I see… So that means cremation is not forbidden even if it is not in an emergency situation?
I have always thought that cremation is forbidden because it is part of the ritual of burying the dead, and since it is a ritual, it cannot be changed, just like prayer and other religious activities.
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Almost all the rituals get changed according to the situation.
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i see…..
so its save to say thar cremation is not haram (big sins) even if it’s not an urgent situation?
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Not suitable if not necessary
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Thank you sir, maybe i Will ask another question about ritual……but thats for different time
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